Member for Currumbin Jann Stuckey, a long time advocate for the CWS, has today in the Queensland Parliament asked the Minister to advise of her Government’s future intentions for this much loved attraction.

The recent Weller and Webbe Report into Government owned boards and statutory bodies recommended that the National Trust Queensland be “divested of responsibility for Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary” and that “Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary should be divested to community form or enabled to operate in its own right by suitable form within the Environment portfolio.”

“In 1976 the Sanctuary was not gifted to the NTQ, it was gifted to the people of Queensland with the Trust simply the vehicle used to ensure its continuance,” Ms Stuckey said.

“There is a long history of ongoing conflict between National Trust Queensland (NTQ) and the running of CWS and it is reported that Alex Griffiths lived to regret his choice of giving control of the Sanctuary to the National Trust.

“The majority of residents believe strongly that the Sanctuary assets must be protected and allowed to be used in ways that align with Alex Griffith’s vision.

“Numerous public meetings have been held in recent years accompanied by much public discontent over the management of the Sanctuary by the NTQ.

“Given the lack of community consultation in previous years and neglect by several Labor Ministers I have sought the following information from the current minister –

“In regard to the National Trust Queensland strategic taskforce to examine recommendation 88 of the Weller and Webbe report would the minister advise the terms of reference, names of taskforce members and contact details, together with an outline of the consultation process and progress to date?”

“Whilst it is good to see some action finally being taken by the Government, unless there is a genuine commitment to include the community in these discussions then nothing will have changed.”